Choosing a cleaning location far from walking paths will prevent ash and char from being tracked around your campsite or home.

You can use Goo Gone Grill and Grate Cleaner if there is excessive dirt and grime on the grill grates. [4] X Expert Source Filip BoksaHouse Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 20 August 2019. Spray it directly on the grates and wipe with a damp cloth after a few minutes. [5] X Expert Source Filip BoksaHouse Cleaning Professional Expert Interview. 20 August 2019. In most cases, you should be able to lift the grate out of the grill. Some grills may have slots the grate fits into or catches. Release the catches, if necessary, and slide the grill free. Use moderate force when brushing your grate and grill. Using excessive force may chip the coating on your grill, which could negatively impact its performance or void its warranty. [6] X Research source

If you’re using a public grill, you may want to place your hand in a plastic bag and sweep loose buildup into a separate plastic bag to be thrown away. [8] X Research source

Some ash catchers may detach from the grill for easy disposal. Slide the ash catcher out of grill, dump the ashes in a bag to be thrown away or directly into the garbage.

For the cleanest grilling, line the grate of your grill with aluminum foil. Poke some holes in the foil before lighting the grill. Using aluminum foil is highly recommended for public grills. You never know what’s been grilled previously. [10] X Research source

Oiling the grate of your grill will prevent food from sticking to it, allowing you to flip and turn food more easily. Depending on your grill, it may take some time for the grill to heat up. Allow the grill to heat for a minimum of 10 to 15 minutes for the best results.

Using too much oil can cause the paper towel to catch fire. For this reason, only lightly apply oil to your paper towel. [13] X Research source Oil can transfer easily to your skin and make a mess. Wear gloves to prevent this while wetting your paper towel with oil. Prepare your paper towel on a spare dish to prevent oil from getting on cooking or dining surfaces.

When the grill is lit, there is a chance the paper towel may catch fire. If this happens, don’t panic. Remove the paper towel from the grill and dunk it in a bucket of water.

The handles on many kinds of fish basket, while convenient for turning the basket, can sometimes prevent you from closing the lid of your grill. This may add to the cooking time of the fish. [18] X Research source If you don’t have a fish basket, wrap the fish in a packet of aluminum foil. Place this on your grill to cook the fish. [19] X Research source

A griddle with an oil-catching groove around the edges will prevent oil and fish juices from dripping into the flames. Oil and juices can cause flare ups. [20] X Research source